Illustrative telegraphy.



N. S. AMSTUTZ.

ILLUSTRATIVE TBLEGRAPHY.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1901.

1,01 9 ,404. Patented'Mar. 5, 1912.

NOAH S. AMS'I'UTZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ILLUSTRATIVE TELEGRAPHY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Application filed September 12, 1901. Serial No. 75,196.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NOAH S. AMs'rU'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Illustrative Telegraphy, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to the art of reproducing sketches, photographs, etc, either locally or at a distance and when my system is used in the latter connection it may be called illustrative telegraphy.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple method whereby an image may be rapidly transmitted and accurately received and reproduced.

In practicing this invention I may control by means of the subject, an electric current flowing in a circuit extraneous to the subject which is being transmitted; atthe transmitting end of the circuit I perform certain operations which facilitate the transmission and at the receiving end my method makes it possible to reproduce the subject in such shape as to facilitate the subsequent reproduction thereof by printing etc.

The invention consists in certain operations whereby these results are accomplished, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawing I illustrate an adaptation of mechanism to the purposes of this invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the transmitting device. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the receiving or recording device. Fig. 3 is a plan of a detail of the transmitter. Fig. 4 is a developed view ofa contact strip, also a detail of the transmitter. Fig.5 is a developed view of a fragment of a received record. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a selenium form of transmitter. 7

Referring to the parts by letter and especially to Fig. 1, A, represents a transmittin drum which may be of common form an provided with clamping rolls'a, a which are adapted to secure the ends of a sheet such as of paper which has been wrapped about the drum. A vertical spindle B is provided which may be driven at a high rate of speed fro the drum A by means of the belt I) an belt pulleys b. If desired the number of rotations per minute of the spindle B may be an even multiple of the number of revolutions of the drum A and some means may be provided for maintaining exactly constant speed rates between thetwo. When a belt is used this may be done by providing the belt with perforations b and forming small spurs b on the driving and driven pulleys which engage them; slidably mounted on the spindle B but feathered thereto is a sleeve B which carries a radial contact arm b which arm may carry a small weight 32 This arm rotates. within a short cylindrical box 0 of insulating material and the weight 72 operates by centrifugal force to hold its tip 6 in proximity to the cylindrical wall thereof. On the inner side of the cylindrical wall of the box C is held a contact strip D, it consists as shown developed in Fig. 4 of a triangular plate; and it is dis posedaround the inner wall of the box C as shown in Fig. 1, its length being. such that when so placed its tip d is just in contact with its edge (1, or if desired a space may be leftbetween these ends; its lower edge (i may rest on the bottom of the box C. Evidently, now if the tip I) were rotated at a height corresponding to the position of the line XX the tip would form contact with the contact strip D for a period proportional to the height of the line XX, and if the tip were rotated in a higher plane the contact would be made for even a shorter period as indicated by the line 3 1 further, if the arm 6 were depressed to its lowest possible plane, contact between the tip 6 and the contact strip D might be maintained throughout an entire 1 revolution of the spindle B. A binding post 03 on the strip D affords means for attaching one terminal of an electric circuit Z, which circuit may include a battery 2, and a collar 6 on which the sleeve B rests; now so long as the tip 12 is in contact with the strip D this circuit will be closed, and when not in contact the circuit will be open. Hence the rotation of the arm 6 operates to produce an intermittent or impulsive current in the circuit and evidently the duration of the impulses will vary with the height of the rotating arm 6 This arm is caused to change its plane of r0 tation according to the variations in light and shade of the subject, as will appearlater.

Upon the drum A is secured, face outwardly, a relief representation E of the subject such as a common carbon print, and

the variations in the character of the profile thereof which are incident to varlations in light and shade, have indicated by thewavy line e. Outside of this print may be wrapped a protective sheet G of yielding material such as celluloid, gelatin, etc.; a stylus f which may be mounted upon a sensitive bellows F presses against the surface of this protective sheet and as it passes over it, presses the sheet into conformity with the surface of the relief-print. This bellows F communicates with a similar one F through the air-hose f and the bellows F may be provided with an extension f fixed to its freely moving side, upon which extension rests the collar 6 already referred to. The drum A being rotated while the stylus is fed longitudinally of the same in the well known manner, the stylus will pass successively above all parts of the surface of the print E, and the movement of the stylus incidental to the undulations thereof, operating through rarefactions and condensations within the bellows, will raise or lower the extension P; in this manner the height of the plane of rotation of the arm will be automatically affected, producing variations in the duration of the impulses in the circuit Z in the manner already described.

The protective sheet G, I consider desirable to preserve the relief surface int-act; by guarding it against being scratched by the tracing point.

It is obvious that a positive photo with a given arrangement of the triangular strip. would record a negative and a negative photo, a positive, a relay inserted in circuit would enable the operator to receive either a positive or negative result from a positix e photo or vice versa.

My invention is also applicable where the transmitting agent is not a relief-representation of the subject but a transparency of the same; in this case a selenium cell is used in connection with a suitable magnet which directly affects the height of the plane of the rotating arm in a similar manner to that described above. The principles of this alternative feature are illustrated in diagrammatic form in Fig. 6. They comprise a transparent cylinder, C, inclosing a source of illumination, L, and reflector, R. A selenium cell S supported in a tube, T, which has a lens, L, and a diaphragm, t, is progressively moved lengthwise of the cylinder, C, which carries the photographic film, P. The selenium cell, S, is connected with the solenoid, S, by wires, 8, s and batter, s, and on account of the variable current produced in the circuit through the variation in lights and shades of the photograph, B, projected onto the cell from the lamp, L, through aperture, t, and lens, L, the solenoid, S, attracts the core, C more or less in opposition to a spring, a, which is'secured to the arm, A, pivoted at F, and. connected to the core, G at one end and through an extension f to a sleeve, 5 on the spindle, B. This spindle carries the contacting brush, 6 shown in Fig. 1, which engages the triangular strip, D, for variable portions of succeeding revolutions according to the position of B, on the driving shaft, B, determined by the solenoid S.

At the receiving end of the line or circuit Z, I may provide a receiving drum A which is substantially similar to the transmitting drum A. On the face of the drum a receiving or recording sheet G which may be of transparent material such as celluloid, gelatin, etc., is secured, the outer side of this sheet beingcovered with a light easily removable coating 9 (Fig. 5) of an opaque substance such as deposited carbon. This may be effected by smoking near a protected flame. Near this drum A the electric circuit Z includes anelectro-magnet M, the armature m ofwhich is pivoted at m and carries an extension arm or lever m whose movement is controlled by step screws m'*. One extremity of the lever m is provided with a recording point m and by means of the screws m it may be accurately adjusted with respect to the recording surface or sheet G, so that it may contact withthe same when the armature m is attracted by the electro-magnet. A light spring wa normally holds the armature so that the recording point m is out of contact with the receiving sheet G as will be readily understood.

Now by any of the well known means the drums A, and A, are rotated synchronously, so that the stylus f and the recorder we pass successively over their entire areas, respec tively; as this takes place the duration of the impulses in the circuit Z will be shortened or lengthened, by the stylus b as it alternately passes an elevation, or a depression in the relief-representation G, and successively affecting the. circuit in this manner, will energize the electro-magnet M and actuate its connected parts, so that the point m will be first held in contact with the sheet G and then withdrawn from it. The point m is in this'way caused to delicately remove the deposited carbon selectively in amounts de-' sensitized with a coating such as maining glue is fixed stance and when the plate is oftransparent substance such as that mentioned above, I can make an engraved'image directly from it, by exposingiit tothe light while held before a'.f -'copperplate in a photo-printing frame, the copper plate being first properly fish-glue and bichromate of ammonia.v The light will affect the coating on the metal plate only at points where it can pass through the plate G, where the carbon has been removedand the metal plate is then washed in water to remove the unafiected glue and, after the reby heatit can then be immediately placed in ,an acid bath where. it will be etched; and this etched plate will evidently then constitute an engraving from which likenesses of the subject may be reproduced as desired, upon ordinary printing presses.

I arrange the fe'ed,-or'lateral movement of the recorder so that in one revolution it is substantially equal to thewidth of the re cording point; hence the spaces cleared of carbon'in adjacent paths of travel, will unite and the coating after the operation is complete will present an appearance somewhat as illustrated on a large scale in Fig.

I 5, where the hatched portion represents the remaining opaque coating g. This figure also se'rvesto illustrate the outline of the I surface of the resulting engraved plate.

1f the record be made with ink upon a I plate such as aluminumI may printdirectly therefrom as from the stone used in lithographic processes:

Heretofore 't has been found diflicult to record rfapidlyenough with the present class ofreceiving machines,

on account of the mechanical work necessary to do the recording'; with my present system, I'av-oid all the usual mechanical effort as my recording surface is so easily scraped ofi, that no appreproduction of a ciable' effort is necessary. Another advantage of my, system is found in the quick printing-plate from my received record wlthout the intervention of cumbrous, and time 1 consuming photographicmethods such as camera, negative,-

etc., and separate printings, if the received rface. With record is made on'an opaque su my received record, I can at once proceed to photographic printing without any delay whatever.

Y which consists 1n 1 'What I"claim is':-

1. The method of reproducing sketches, photographs, or representations thereof,

which consistsin causing the propagation of 4 electrical impulses independently of a subject, and causing the subject to control the ,duration of said impulses without varying their periodicity, and suitably recording the same.

2. The method of reproducing sketches, photographs, 'or representations thereof, which consists in subjecting a device to the characteristics of a subject, causing a displacementv between the device and the sub j'ect, independently propagating electric impulses at a uniform rate, causing the characteristics of of said impulses, and suitably recording the photographs, or representations thereof, which consists in causing a movable member to pass at a pre-determined distance from the face of a relief subject while under the control of said subject, in controlling an electrie circuit by means of said member, whereby a suitable record of the subject is produced.

4c. The method of reproducing sketches, photographs, or representations thereof, which consists in, causing a subject to automatically-vary the duration of impulses in an electrical circuit by changing the relation between axial and rotary 'movements of translating members,- and suitably recording the same. I a

5. The method of reproducing sketches, photographs, or representations thereof,

causing continuous unidirectional movement in a primary translating member, anda variable reversible movement of a second cooperativetranslative member,

in causing a pictorial subject -to control the variable reversible movement to confirm to the characteristics of said subject, in trans-' mitting the same electrically, and in suitably recording thesame.

In testimon .whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

NOAH. s. AMSTUTZ.

ame. v

3. The method of reproducing sketches,

a subject to vary the duration 

